It is a parasite Can grow to be 4 mm to 5 mm long Feeds on blood of warm blooded animals and loves humans
Prefers to feed at night when it is dark Oval in shape rust brown color that turns to a darker red after they feed Shape and size look similar to an apple seed
In cracks and crevices In bed frames, mattresses and bedding In furniture, upholstery, and dressers
Behind picture frames and bulletin boards Under wallpaper Behind baseboards
Transforms from an egg to a nymph to an adult in 5 weeks & sheds their skin 5 times in the process Females can lay 500 eggs in a lifetime
Eggs hatch in one to two weeks Live up to 18 month without food but prefer to eat every 5 to 10 days.
Have been around for most of human existence. Have existed for at least 3500 years Almost non-existent in the US from 1950 to early 1990’s mainly due to the development of synthetic insecticides such as DDT
Insecticides once used to kill bedbugs are illegal to use in the US. New insecticides have not been developed for killing bedbugs International & domestic travel is a main contributor to the bedbug resurgence
Infested hotels/motels Sitting on furniture that is infested Hitchhiking in your luggage Using used furniture
Moving into an empty apartment that is infested Mail (eggs can be transported on letters and packages)
Come out of hiding at night to feast The body temperature and sweat glands attract them to humans Usually stay within 20 feet of their food source but can travel
Dark fecal/blood spots are on sheets Dark fecal/blood spots & trails on furniture, walls, picture frames, baseboards, clothing
Bitten at night but never see what is biting you Bites leave a welt that resemble a mosquito bite
Insecticides - can take multiple treatments and is less effective in killing the eggs Freezing – hard to freeze the entire area but is good for spot treatment Steam – good for spot treatment
Heat – best overall process for large areas and provides the best and quickest results Hot water wash and hot dryer also kill the eggs and bedbugs
Routine inspections Do not allow used furniture Good housekeeping practices
Heat allows treatment with the least long term inconvenience to resident Heat kills the egg and bedbug Steam allows us to treat items students need to take out of room during treatment
Student is out of room for 24 to 48 hours in most cases No need for repeated chemical use Heat attracts the bedbug and kills the bedbug
Chemicals can drive it to adjoining rooms and do not kill the eggs Heat requires one treatment DHFS staff can perform the heat treatment
Bedbugs do exist and any of us can bring them home on any given day. DHFS is prepared to identify and treat them immediately. DHFS has proven equipment and a trained team with proven results to kill the bedbugs when discovered.